Proposed OSHA regs threaten gun, ammo industry
From VCDL's VA-ALERT:
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1. ACTION ITEM: Proposed OSHA regs threaten gun, ammo industry
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Here we go again. Some faceless/brainless bureaucrat has found yet
another way to attack our Second Amendment rights - in this case by
regulating ammunition and gunpowder into oblivion! Only government
could think up stuff this stupid.
If you think ammo is expensive now, just wait and see what ammo will
cost if this proposed regulation isn't stopped.
This is a serious threat and we must take action to head it off at
the pass. Time, unfortunately, is extremely short - so you must act
now.
Right now the proposed OSHA regulation is in a required 60-day public
comment period. It is then ready to be made into a regulation.
***We only have until July 12th (Thursday) to let OSHA know that we
do NOT want this regulation!***
It is important to also let your Congressional representatives know
about your opposition to this backdoor gun-control scheme.
You can contact your Congressman here:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#va (House)
and Senators here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=VA
Thanks to Douglas C. Johnson and others for bringing this to my attention.
From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:
http://tinyurl.com/2czrql
Proposed OSHA Regulation Threatens Firearm and Ammunition Industry
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the
government agency charged with assuring the safety and health of
America's workers, is proposing a regulatory rule affecting the
manufacturing, transportation and storage of small arms ammunition,
primers and smokeless propellants.
As written, the proposed rule would force the closure of nearly all
ammunition manufacturers and force the cost of small arms ammunition
to skyrocket beyond what the market could bear -- essentially
collapsing our industry. This is not an exaggeration. The cost to
comply with the proposed rule for the ammunition industry, including
manufacturer, wholesale distributors and retailers, will be massive
and easily exceed $100 million. For example, ammunition and smokeless
propellant manufacturers would have to shut down and evacuate a
factory when a thunderstorm approached and customers would not be
allowed within 50 feet of any ammunition (displayed or otherwise
stored) without first being searched for matches or lighters.
NSSF and SAAMI have already had a preliminary meeting with OSHA
officials to begin the process of explaining to them the major
problems this proposed rule presents for all levels of the firearms
and ammunition industry. Furthermore, NSSF and SAAMI are each seeking
a 60 day extension of the public comment period (currently scheduled
to expire July 12).
NSSF is urging all retailers to contact OSHA directly and request a
60-day extension of the public comment period. Retailers should
inform OSHA that the proposed rule constitutes a "significant
regulatory action" as defined in Executive Order 12866 (1993) Section
3(f)(1) in that it will clearly "adversely affect in a material way"
the retail sector of the firearms and ammunition industry,
productivity, competition and jobs and that the annual compliance
cost for all retailers of ammunition will far exceed $100 million
dollars.
Use this link for a template letter:
http://www.nssf.org/share/docs/BP070207-OSHAletter.rtf
If you choose to draft your own letter, the reference line must read
as follows:
RE: Docket No. OSHA-2007-0032 Request to Extend Public Comment
Period and Request for Hearing on "Significant Regulatory Action" as
Defined in Executive Order 12866
Please fax the letter to: 202-693-1648 (include the docket number and
Department of Labor/OSHA on the cover sheet and in the reference
section of your letter).
Please e-mail the letter by visiting:
http://www.regulations.gov
and following the submission instructions.